India survived a major scare against Japan to register a thrilling two-run victory in the historic one-off T20 International at the Sano International Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
The rain-affected match was reduced to just five overs per side, turning the contest into a dramatic sprint. India posted 32 for 4 before Japan came agonisingly close, finishing on 30 for 3.
India won the toss and elected to bat, but Japan’s bowlers made excellent use of the conditions. India’s top order struggled to build momentum, with captain Shreyas Iyer leading the scoring with 16 from 12 deliveries.
Sanju Samson contributed nine from seven balls, while Ishan Kishan made three. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on one and Shivam Dube finished without scoring. India eventually reached 32/4 from five overs.
Japan’s Charlie Hara-Hinze was the standout bowler, taking two wickets, while Ibrahim Takahashi and Benjamin Ito-Davis claimed one wicket each.
Japan Push India to the Limit
Chasing 33, Japan showed tremendous composure and belief. The hosts kept the required run rate under control and entered the final over needing eight runs to win.
India turned to experienced spinner Axar Patel, who produced a superb final over under enormous pressure. He conceded only five runs, restricting Japan to 30/3 and sealing India’s narrow two-run victory. Axar finished with impressive figures of 2 overs for 7 runs.
The result gave India a 1-0 victory in the one-off T20I series, but Japan emerged with plenty of credit after pushing one of the world’s strongest cricket teams right to the finish.
A Historic Encounter
The match was significant as it marked the first T20I meeting between India and Japan. Although the contest was heavily affected by rain and reduced to five overs a side, it delivered an unexpectedly close finish.
India’s batting struggles gave Japan a genuine opportunity to create one of the biggest upsets in their cricketing history. However, India’s experience with the ball, particularly Axar Patel’s composure in the final over, ultimately made the difference.
Final Score:
🇮🇳 India – 32/4 (5 overs)
🇯🇵 Japan – 30/3 (5 overs)
🏆 India won by 2 runs
📊 One-off T20I: India won 1-0
